Unit 2

Unit 2 sits in Saint Leonards-on-Sea, a gallery space that punches above its weight for a seaside town. The converted industrial unit houses contemporary art and craft work - the kind of place where you might stumble across a sculptor's studio or a printmaker's latest exhibition. It's working artist space meets public gallery, so what's on changes regularly.

The real appeal here is that it feels genuine. No corporate polish, no gift shop flogging overpriced postcards. You get actual makers and their work, often with the chance to chat to them during open hours. If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Combe Haven is barely a mile away - it's a solid rainy-day option or a pleasant morning wander from your caravan.

That said, don't expect the National Gallery. This is intimate, sometimes rough around the edges, and depends entirely on the current exhibition. I'd ring ahead or check online first; opening hours aren't fixed and it operates on the artist's schedule, not tourist time. For families with older kids interested in art-making it works well. Younger children might lose interest after twenty minutes.

It pairs nicely with a broader Saint Leonards crawl - the seafront is functional rather than stunning, but there's decent fish and chips and the town's got more character than its larger neighbour Hastings. Worth a look if you're in the area, but don't build your whole holiday around it.